tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92185916683565642572024-03-14T04:53:01.424+11:00The Ghostlight Project...an exploration in the delicate art of finding films that never existed...Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-65560261546807579482011-01-29T11:22:00.003+11:002011-01-29T12:04:20.420+11:00Week 30: Text: Extract from the preface to Mircea Bough's "Infernal Dreams: The Occult in Silent Cinema", p. iv..<div style="text-align: justify;">Indeed, one cannot begin to imagine the emergence of cinema without taking into consideration the cultural context it appeared in, namely widespread belief in spiritualism, spirit mediums, the practice of seances, ghost photography and mass attendance at fairground houses of horror. The silver screen parted the veil polite society was so desperate to see beyond. The subject of the film need not be macabre, but the very act of sitting together in the dark to witness these flickering apparitions was imbued with an undercurrent of danger palpable (to the point of intoxication) to the highly strained Christian sensibilities of Western audiences. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yet more thrilling to us now, cinematically, historically, politically and metaphysically, were those tentative excursions into overt depictions of the occult made by pioneering filmmakers like Andre LeBeouff, Gunther Hundertgrass and Theodore String. Accused of everything from fraud and treason to sorcery, their work was either banned by conservative provincial governments or canned by nervous distributors, yet theirs is a legacy that reaches down to us in what today are considered some of the pinnacles of cinematic achievement: <i>Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, Ghost. </i></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this book I have endeavoured to recreate the times in which these men made their subliminal mark. Our story traces through the lodges of German Rosicrucianism, the Court of Tsar Nicholas, the diplomatic salons of Paris and the universities of England, weaving together the numerous threads that formed occult cinema's (in)visible cloak. </div><i></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-69619156222321389002011-01-27T12:47:00.000+11:002011-01-27T12:47:05.799+11:00Week 30 : Illustration Fragment : 'In The House of Fortune'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKyxIbiDuTpDA1cBDzLjDn_rHuipjHUkgFD-bmxHMjAoRAavJ94YQ1RMriQjU01sElZtrJf0WnmAqhHPV5bJLPa0sz6t9wwhSHC61EiVCIQF0NFN16R1axdgK6jhXeIQqxYDkN6gXrJY/s1600/Inthe+Houseof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKyxIbiDuTpDA1cBDzLjDn_rHuipjHUkgFD-bmxHMjAoRAavJ94YQ1RMriQjU01sElZtrJf0WnmAqhHPV5bJLPa0sz6t9wwhSHC61EiVCIQF0NFN16R1axdgK6jhXeIQqxYDkN6gXrJY/s640/Inthe+Houseof.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>Rejected Artwork for the original theatrical Poster. At the time it was felt more focus should be put on the starlets of the feature rather than on the dark arts that underpin its storyline.unpurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459986003163102120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-51069339185949840892011-01-25T08:04:00.007+11:002011-01-28T00:30:38.248+11:00Week 30 : Music Fragment : 'In the House of Fortune'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s1600/Gramophone-Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s320/Gramophone-Small.png" width="262" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to In the House of Fortune</span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><object data="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0" height="24" id="audioplayer1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-30-InTheHouseOfFortune.mp3"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-30-InTheHouseOfFortune.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Download the mp3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(3mb)</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span> </span></b></span>Murray Lordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117200238333478988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-48734266479207988082011-01-24T01:11:00.002+11:002011-01-24T01:13:26.557+11:00Week 30 : Film Fragment : 'In The House of Fortune'<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19014399?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=80ceff" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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A partially restored scene that begins the third chapter of the the film. It is difficult to determine if the color distortion at the end of this fragment was an intentional manipulation effect by used by the director, or was simply a flaw in the film stock.Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-50376513615658532302010-12-21T18:28:00.000+11:002010-12-21T18:28:21.918+11:00Week 29 : Christmas Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc2hqkg_e7lk6T-5VshIeuVeTlkMWDKHZe2CGFXjsPIkvbQV-CCNfDnKCXrb4d7IubgA-XlfxiiwLJfwzpjGjAweXHWgQdWAtFimNE4Rs98OJbqYVa8QgggqCOHJZOzlbk589Me_j8e4/s1600/Ghostlight+Week+29+-+Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc2hqkg_e7lk6T-5VshIeuVeTlkMWDKHZe2CGFXjsPIkvbQV-CCNfDnKCXrb4d7IubgA-XlfxiiwLJfwzpjGjAweXHWgQdWAtFimNE4Rs98OJbqYVa8QgggqCOHJZOzlbk589Me_j8e4/s400/Ghostlight+Week+29+-+Merry+Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Ghostlight team will be taking this week off from their endeavours, but will be back after Christmas.Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-25050173503983708692010-12-17T20:21:00.004+11:002010-12-18T17:24:23.082+11:00Week 28: text: Extract from St Francis' Church Mass Book.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZse8wAMAT9h_MhiPQoBLYaf7ZDfQ5kZu6KO3Ql28skRC4-NKsNrOiSiYvLD3lsCfbobkpHJAS58PWvZIqNai96LOAjICM0cYhYkVXpSwBomAAWUrnJ5FlNDEikJ4Mv9TDOMRAOoRsRa8/s1600/mass+page1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551579578635677202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZse8wAMAT9h_MhiPQoBLYaf7ZDfQ5kZu6KO3Ql28skRC4-NKsNrOiSiYvLD3lsCfbobkpHJAS58PWvZIqNai96LOAjICM0cYhYkVXpSwBomAAWUrnJ5FlNDEikJ4Mv9TDOMRAOoRsRa8/s400/mass+page1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 291px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div>Director Alvin Marsh shot much of "In Good Faith" at The Blessed Congregation in Melbourne where he himself underwent catechism as a boy. He incorporated many aspects of the liturgical services he had experienced there into the film. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-48230258449217429272010-12-16T00:09:00.000+11:002010-12-16T00:09:31.157+11:00Week 28 : Illustration Fragment : 'In Good Faith'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2kIOt53alSeURtAgg_5AEgnX1ZAlSeeD3DigRwm4B7I7lfTSt6Z5XjEgeaKLyFtP8cSGDOHL9khUwswfdCAy8KDTe18ch-7eTlcZ54cKnsCyadjnDFHH34foat420c3I15FizK634V8/s1600/InGoodFaith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2kIOt53alSeURtAgg_5AEgnX1ZAlSeeD3DigRwm4B7I7lfTSt6Z5XjEgeaKLyFtP8cSGDOHL9khUwswfdCAy8KDTe18ch-7eTlcZ54cKnsCyadjnDFHH34foat420c3I15FizK634V8/s640/InGoodFaith.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>unpurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459986003163102120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-68925620027384572802010-12-15T09:35:00.000+11:002018-07-18T14:51:33.198+10:00Week 28: Photography Fragment: 'In Good Faith'<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Found piece no.5: 'The floorboard scene'</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-535436001871309892010-12-14T18:03:00.000+11:002010-12-14T18:03:03.965+11:00Week 28 : Music Fragment : 'In Good Faith'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s1600/Gramophone-Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s320/Gramophone-Small.png" width="262" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Good Faith...</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><object data="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0" height="24" id="audioplayer1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-28-InGoodFaith.mp3"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-28-InGoodFaith.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Download the mp3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(3.5mb)</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span> </span></b></span>Murray Lordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117200238333478988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-1080608556208705852010-12-13T13:01:00.000+11:002010-12-14T13:04:57.833+11:00Week 28 : Film Fragment : 'In Good Faith'<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17721368?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=0" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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A small restored snippet from the silent film 'In Good Faith'.Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-74720552420401955292010-12-10T13:54:00.006+11:002010-12-18T17:24:05.820+11:00Week 27: Text: film review in The Michigan Temperance Society Gazette, Art and Culture Section, January 1923<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">HIGH WATERMARK REACHED IN "TIDES OF MAN"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">by Geraldine Speers.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the legislators of our great land, in a rare display of wisdom, passed the Prohibition Act through Congress, we in the League felt that our prayers had been answered, that a corner had been turned, and that our United States would begin the slow climb out of depravity towards that state of perfection which is God’s promise to Man. But alcohol is not the only snare we must shake off if we are to ascend Jacob’s Ladder. Now that our livers are clean it behoves us to purify the body’s most delicate instrument: the eyes. And so it was with great pleasure that I accepted the Michigan Temperance League’s offer to become a contributor of film criticism to their righteous periodical. Like Virgil did for Dante I shall strive to guide you through the darkness of the celluloid deep. It is a treacherous path, yet one that may still lead to paradise. We the viewing public must remain vigilant, discerning and cultivate a strong cinematic sensibility. Let the movie moghuls serve our enlightened interests, lest we become subject to their degeneracy. The technological wonder of cinema is itself benign. It is the use that Man puts to it that shall render it either an instrument for spiritual improvement or debasement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is with this in mind that I wish to praise the makers of <i>The Tides of Man</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> for what was, up to this point in my fledgling career as a cineaste, the most moving experience I have yet had outside of a chapel. The photoplay tends towards the rhetorical - few amongst us scribblers can refuse the urge to wax prolix – yet the photography is supremely innovative and without being ostentatious creates a rich garden for the mind to stroll about in, a mis en scene bursting with little miracles. Not least is the use of colour tinting to highlight certain details: the red of a rose bud; the blue of the street urchin Clementine’s eyes, so bright they threaten to pierce your heart; the exotic flags flapping on the bonnet of the European ambassador’s opulent motor vehicle seeming to glitter like strange eyes in the face of some fabulous beast. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I like most about these effects is that they serve the intentions of the story, unlike so many trick films released recently that simply seek to stimulate for their own sake. I hold this movie up as a standard for all film makers to follow. Let not your technical skill outstrip your moral purpose, lest you and your audience become slaves to sensation, drooling like slack jawed yahoos in the monkey house you make of what was once the temple of cinema.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-21319644992610148792010-12-08T18:32:00.001+11:002018-07-18T14:51:50.557+10:00Week 27: Photography Fragment: 'The Tides of Man'<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Death under autumn'</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-1714630075352569112010-12-08T01:30:00.001+11:002010-12-09T13:42:48.490+11:00Week 27 : Music Fragment : 'The Tide of Man'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCYJKGnbG24Cc8NtJsPkfmWvCM0XYqAp0wbTbg_Wp-flzV8ueEApXlLu8h63jazlqDx29NarRA7hyphenhyphen-w1kheBb-0dfw5-7h8serGuT5unHF_w1SoX9yvb9x1kFSAn3EGbqyP3oPNiJ9phn/s1600/MissM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCYJKGnbG24Cc8NtJsPkfmWvCM0XYqAp0wbTbg_Wp-flzV8ueEApXlLu8h63jazlqDx29NarRA7hyphenhyphen-w1kheBb-0dfw5-7h8serGuT5unHF_w1SoX9yvb9x1kFSAn3EGbqyP3oPNiJ9phn/s320/MissM.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Tide of Man...</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><object data="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0" height="24" id="audioplayer1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-27-TheTideOfMan.mp3"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-27-TheTideOfMan.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Download the mp3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(2mb)</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span> </span></b></span>Murray Lordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117200238333478988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-85335361683656529792010-12-06T16:10:00.008+11:002010-12-07T19:42:41.905+11:00Week 27 : Film Fragment : 'The Tides of Man'<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17553931?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=0" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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A short scene fragment from the film 'Tides of Man', notable for its occasional use of hand tinted coloring on some scenes.Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-6493167367706364832010-12-03T15:05:00.004+11:002010-12-18T17:24:38.426+11:00Week 26: Text: Note found on carrier bird, March 8th 1925..<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>To whom the blackbird sings, I hope he finds you well.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9218591668356564257&postID=649316736770636483#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="">[1]</a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>My name is Yvette and I have since birth been without the use of my eyes. I will not say I have been blind. I see. But unlike you, images do not come in a steady, unbidden flow. The world does not wash up upon my eyes. Like a mariner, a fisherman, an explorer, I go and seek. And </i><i>I do not let slop one single drop of vision. </i><i>Can you imagine such a thirst that cannot be quenched?</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>No, seeing for me is much more like sculpture and darkness the stone from which I chip black shards, honing in hungrily upon the forms that lie within. Each statue I reveal has a place in my gallery. Faces, animals, entire forests of trees bend upwards through my mind. I walk amongst my works and by the echo of my footsteps off their contours know myself, my presence, my weight, my shape. My fingers are the tools by which I have acquired my menagerie. But my reach is short. I cannot, as most may now, travel the globe through daguerrotype and cinematograph depiction. I do not want to be left behind here in my little world. I want to see more, know more, become more. Please help me. Please send me a piece of your world so that I may touch it, trace its lines and involve them with mine. Something unique to your location, or perhaps, even more precious, something unique to you.</i><i> </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Within this note you have found wrapped about Hermes’ talon there is, you see, a five franc note. Unless I underestimate my little messenger’s endurance this should prove ample postage. If you choose not to assist me please reattach this note and Hermes will bear it onwards. He will not return to me until his message is delivered.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Yours faithfully,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Yvette Briel<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>23 Rue Patomeneux</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i></i><i>Reims, Champagne,</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>France.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9218591668356564257&postID=649316736770636483#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9218591668356564257&postID=649316736770636483#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> Translated from the original French by Stuart Orr.</div></div><div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9218591668356564257&postID=649316736770636483#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a> Hermes and his message were discovered by cinematographer Hans Kaisel in Bremen Germany, March 8<sup>th</sup> 1925, 459km north east of Reims. </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-56865316905198236302010-12-02T04:56:00.000+11:002010-12-02T04:56:01.249+11:00Week 26 : Illustration Fragment : 'Like a Veil Lifted'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GkubMNvY-W3LlLOuh0m3AeX5q5T70VFc69GTQr02ezHZahWg23fXmQ4StSV6tIt58l-0nwOtYfOd6XL4s2APAuQXzKYD6i0LeOum9lrF07IsYf_xm9au2ruSVkkIZIGzC3BVyv1J9Jc/s1600/Bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GkubMNvY-W3LlLOuh0m3AeX5q5T70VFc69GTQr02ezHZahWg23fXmQ4StSV6tIt58l-0nwOtYfOd6XL4s2APAuQXzKYD6i0LeOum9lrF07IsYf_xm9au2ruSVkkIZIGzC3BVyv1J9Jc/s640/Bird.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>unpurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459986003163102120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-34366391676929035412010-11-30T06:00:00.001+11:002010-11-30T06:00:05.100+11:00Week 26 : Music Fragment : 'Like a Veil Lifted'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s1600/Gramophone-Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s320/Gramophone-Small.png" width="262" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Like a Veil Lifted...</span></span></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object data="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0" height="24" id="audioplayer1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-26-LikeAVeilLifted-Record-Archive2718-b-IX.mp3"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></object></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-26-LikeAVeilLifted-Record-Archive2718-b-IX.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Download the mp3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(3mb)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span> </span></b></span>Murray Lordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117200238333478988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-69050971028732600832010-11-29T12:09:00.000+11:002010-11-29T12:09:08.621+11:00Week 26 : Film Fragment : 'Like A Veil Lifted'<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17273000?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=0" width="600"></iframe><br />
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This fragment from the lost film 'Like A Veil Lifted', was shot using an early experimental color process.Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-4203636622692912032010-11-26T18:56:00.000+11:002010-11-26T18:56:59.008+11:00Week 25 : Text Fragment : Partial Lecture TranscriptPartial Lecture Transcript <br />
UCLA Film Studies 5C - May 6th 1939<br />
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<i>Melody Straw, screenwriter, explains where she got the title for her first script, "The Alligator Funeral."</i><br />
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My grandmother was a wire artist. In her heyday she crossed a wire hung over the Grand Canyon, by the time I was born she had slowed down considerably, but I once watched her walk a wire between two balancing elephants. She was a stately old lady then, with far more grace on the wire than she ever managed on the ground.<br />
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We called her Eh-Eh (like the letter "A" repeated twice) though her name was Alphonsa - named for her father who kept the wolves in the circus. No one knew who Eh-Eh's mother was. One day a baby appeared in a box on the steps of my great-grandfather's trailer with a note that simply read, "YOURS." [laughter]<br />
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The wolf keeper had quite a reputation and no one doubted that the child was his. As Alphonsa grew her temperment proved her lineage even more; the circus folk I met always said that she was the only one who could quiet the wolves when they got to howling.<br />
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Alphonse and Alphonsa kept the wolves, then the lions, and later, the alligators. Alphonsa was particularly fond of the gators and when they hatched she would carry the babies in a purse, little green tails wagging back and forth as she walked the grounds.<br />
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Alphonse wanted more for his daughter than a life with the animals and as she was neither smart nor pretty he taught her the only thing besides animal wrangling that she had an affinity for: balancing. By age seven she was in the clown act, dancing on a giant red ball. By twelve she had a solo on the high wire.<br />
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Alphonse died in the summer of Alphonsa's fourteenth year. They had just picked up a new brood of alligators, including the legendary, "Ol' Jank - Terror of the South," reputed to be seventeen feet long, but actually only thirteen and a half. Jank was cantankerous and old, and as it turned out, quite the trickster. One day, after Jank had lain in his cage, refusing food for over a week, Alphonse decided to go in and investigate the problem. As soon as the cage door shut with my grandfather inside Jank sprang with lightening agility and bit Alphonse in two.<br />
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My grandmother loved to tell this story whenever I had friends over and she seemed to take particular pleasure when she was able to make them cry. She herself never shed a tear, nor did she show any sadness at all regarding her father's untimely demise. "He died an honorable death." She would say, "He got an alligator funeral."<br />
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(Contributed by guest writer Kim Boekbinder)Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-58127212532029900382010-11-25T19:35:00.001+11:002010-11-25T19:36:57.138+11:00week 25 : Illustration Fragment : The Alligator Funeral'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tsSI-sFuGhPoI3AhsdQD91YSYq7sJZC2DvzGRM0QyWja988kPSkCjko7uRVMXNIe1d2kEt3JXLha6nHy4LUf0_Zv_cmb_sYlXlEfncKfQzZfmUl5gLAFpaTRPmWXoTGmcYiJgdicEzA/s1600/Aligator+Funeral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tsSI-sFuGhPoI3AhsdQD91YSYq7sJZC2DvzGRM0QyWja988kPSkCjko7uRVMXNIe1d2kEt3JXLha6nHy4LUf0_Zv_cmb_sYlXlEfncKfQzZfmUl5gLAFpaTRPmWXoTGmcYiJgdicEzA/s640/Aligator+Funeral.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>unpurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459986003163102120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-11580093911399651442010-11-24T09:19:00.003+11:002010-12-18T17:25:07.565+11:00Week 25: Photography Fragment: "The Alligator Funeral"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5200861367_2337e0b3c4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5200861367_2337e0b3c4_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-9605632186588169022010-11-23T22:42:00.000+11:002010-11-23T22:42:30.709+11:00Week 25 : Music Fragment : 'The Alligator Funeral'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s1600/Gramophone-Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_la0m3EYsOrbKASU5DDIbzTmzOn5H5nuCUiPux2NAcRQj-AZDDeOAOWC6crbJOQ72J7kitSY1mE0qCGwoEqo82Wi9vMYSIinnLwHhTyENmuxrbWdsgVhrz7PIWLTK7nRh_l0lDYPu5SsJ/s320/Gramophone-Small.png" width="262" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Alligator Funeral...</span></span></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object data="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0" height="24" id="audioplayer1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.muzboz.com/FlashPlayers/player.swf?attredirects=0"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-25-TheAlligatorFuneral.mp3"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></object></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://muzboz.com/Ghostlight/MurrayLorden-Ghostlight-25-TheAlligatorFuneral.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Download the mp3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(2mb)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span> </span></b></span>Murray Lordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16117200238333478988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-83377166488445753302010-11-22T10:40:00.001+11:002010-11-22T10:46:52.994+11:00Week 25 : Film Fragment : 'The Alligator Funeral'<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17045280?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=0" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
<br />
Scene fragment from the film 'The Alligator Funeral'.<br />
(Image of Elyas Khan by Photographer Bill Phelps)Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-76983948039560953272010-11-15T20:04:00.000+11:002010-11-15T20:04:13.298+11:00Week 24 : Intermission<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6Gnan77u608s6mhPGiQp7ZyUVYOp9Z418dfxaI93QDwZq17Vr82_bxOb3CU8TA6HWYLZItF5576n5ggeHzZeakwjHhO3YsUvd3s2F91P9tegm1y3G0JnjJMO7CP0OjcSUlz9IclVuVQ/s1600/Week+19+-+Intermission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6Gnan77u608s6mhPGiQp7ZyUVYOp9Z418dfxaI93QDwZq17Vr82_bxOb3CU8TA6HWYLZItF5576n5ggeHzZeakwjHhO3YsUvd3s2F91P9tegm1y3G0JnjJMO7CP0OjcSUlz9IclVuVQ/s400/Week+19+-+Intermission.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Due to the rigors of international travel, another brief intermission has been called. Regular updates will commence again next week. Thank you for your patience.</div>Jim Batthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974220323502709295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218591668356564257.post-83576034389029677702010-11-12T13:47:00.005+11:002010-11-15T12:10:24.877+11:00Week 23: SOUTHEBY'S AUCTION CATALOGUE, London, 12/11/53<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgAhgxGjsJ2QS1zln7tSk9Iosfm8D5aqq_FyZz4riX8ug7G_n_6iTgIdsRDiYAI_-6f37x6m6rztk2ZaMs5GxKA_-Xl7mwynxDHAQKVQsB8QrEfr5mB7oVilnHIuMxa9NbiF17l4IQEA/s1600/The-Maria-Alexandrovna-Sapphire-Brooch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538489922365233874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgAhgxGjsJ2QS1zln7tSk9Iosfm8D5aqq_FyZz4riX8ug7G_n_6iTgIdsRDiYAI_-6f37x6m6rztk2ZaMs5GxKA_-Xl7mwynxDHAQKVQsB8QrEfr5mB7oVilnHIuMxa9NbiF17l4IQEA/s400/The-Maria-Alexandrovna-Sapphire-Brooch.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 319px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Lot 328</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">PROPERTY OF A LADY<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">"THE JEWEL OF SOLOMON"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">This 260.37 carat, oval-cut sapphire of Sri Lankan origin with an evenly distributed medium-dark saturated blue colour characteristic of the best quality of Sri Lankan sapphires, with dimensions of 6cm x 5.3cm, is set in a ring of diamonds amounting to 56.60 carats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">This unique jewel has accumulated as many legends as it has owners and settings. The most spurious purports that the gem once adorned the “Ephod” oracular device worn by the Kohen Gadol (Jewish High Priest) mentioned in the Old Testament Book of Genesis. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are said to have been engraved upon its surface. The stone bears no trace of them today. Rather than dispel the rumours this fact has only fed speculation that each subsequent possessor of the stone has recut and polished it to suit his or her own occult purposes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">The current brooch setting is attributed to a commission by Csar Alexander II for presentation to Maria Alexandrovna, the Russian Emperor’s consort, upon its purchase at the Great London Exhibition in 1862. Court rumour held that the Csar wished the gem to act as a guarantee of his consort’s fidelity, having been promised that it would fade if she was untrue. Upon first seeing the brooch upon the breast of Alexandra, wife of Csar Nicholas II, fifty years later, the mystic Rasputin is reported to have perceived in its blue depths a vision of the future assassination of the royal family at the hands of the Bolshevik Red Guard. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Upon the death of Rasputin the brooch disappeared from the royal treasury. It reappeared some years later in the possession of another wandering magician, Xavio the Illustrious, whom had it set in a turban and claimed to use its power of prognostication to tell the fortune of his paying audience. He did not however forsee the accident that would rob him of his sight during the final performance of his act at the Wintergarten cabaret in the Spring of 1928, when he famously predicted the invention of the atom bomb, at which point the gun powder he kept in his breast pocket for dramatic punctuations of his pronouncements inexplicably combusted. Xavio subsequently pawned the stone to support him in his enforced retirement from the cabaret scene. The money lender to whom he sold the priceless artefact was deported to Buchenwald by the Nazi regime, and his possessions were confiscated and kept in a Swiss vault until their recent discovery by the Simon Weisenthal group. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Bidding will begin at 700,000 pounds sterling.</span><o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0